Pensioners cannot have free ride on buses, says Go Ahead chief

Pensioners cannot be given a "blank cheque" to travel on buses for free, a transport industry leader has warned.

Despite Keith Ludeman's criticism, the Department of Transport said it had no plans to alter the schemePhoto: JUSTIN SUTCLIFFE

By Sarah Knapton

5:27PM BST 26 Apr 2009

Keith Ludeman, chief executive of the Go-Ahead Group that runs more than 3,400 buses across the country, says councils are struggling to fully reimburse bus companies for the free travel scheme that was introduced a year ago.

Some companies have complained they receive less than half the fare charged to paying passengers from local authorities and are now considering cutting routes used by the elderly to discourage them from travelling.

Calling on an upper limit for travelling, Mr Ludeman said: "Pensioners cannot be given a blank cheque. It ends up with the perverse result that you reduce mileage on some routes."

The flagship Government scheme was unveiled by Gordon Brown shortly before the last election in an attempt to win the "grey vote".

It costs £1 billion a year and the passes are used by pensioners to travel for free anywhere on local bus services in England.

But shortly after it was introduced, the over-60s discovered that it was less generous than schemes already operated by some local councils, because it was limited to travel within a local authority's boundaries.

It also had to be altered to stop the passes being used on coaches and open-top tours after bus companies complained the free places were squeezing out fare-paying passengers. The change led to the Government being accused of "moving the goalposts" by campaigners.

From the outset councils warned that the Government had failed to fund the scheme properly. Earlier this month the Local Government Association said councils would face a £30m shortfall leading to the closure of libraries, swimming pools and leisure centres.

Ten of the 50 authorities surveyed by the Association said they needed at least £1m more to pay for free off peak travel for the over-60s.

But despite the criticism the Department of Transport said it had no plans to alter the scheme.

"The Government is proud of its concessionary travel policy. A recent survey suggests around 95 per cent of people support the England-wide concession and we have no plans to limit it," said a spokesman.

"We currently spend over £1 billion on the free bus pass, providing vital transport links for around 11 million elderly and disabled people."

Age Concern and Help the Aged also said the passes was invaluable to the elderly who find themselves isolated and lonely.

"Limiting the card could undermine the progress that we have made," said head of policy David Sinclair, "One in eight people would describe themselves as isolated and lonely and transport is the key to assuaging that."

Dot Gibson, of the National Pensioners Convention, added: "Millions of older people rely on their free bus pass to keep them independent and mobile and any attempt to curtail this scheme will be met with strong resistance."